In improving weather which has become more June-like the HTA were back at Potter’s Park last night.
The senior hounds got things underway with the noticeable absence of the three top hounds Rodney Raider, Winterfell and Huntsman’s Rebel.
That left the door open for some of the other top hounds to take advantage and pull back some of their deficits.
There were 11 runners and as they crossed the first road it was Embrace and Mel who were leading the way.
When they came back onto the finish a good race has developed between Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Ian Rumney’s Embrace; Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier’s Mel and Alan Blacklock’s Busy Again, who had joined the leading pair.
As they neared the finishing line Embrace, with his long stride, managed to keep ahead of the fast finishing Busy Again who just couldn’t get up to take first place with Mel running on well to finish in third place.
Stanley and Carol Jackson’s Croft Lass wasn’t far behind and finished well to take fourth place with Derek and Joel Bulman and Neil and Gillian Brown’s Dundee in fifth. The last ticket went to Willie and Daphne Mark’s Sportsman.
The open pups were next to slip with a field of 20 hounds. The table leader Huntsman’s Time wasn’t there and Thornton was the hot favourite at 4/6 with the bookies as he continues to excel, especially on the finish.
As they got underway and returned into view there were four hounds together. They jumped the last fence with Thornton in third place but once over the obstacle he moved up a gear and came through very impressively to win by a length or so for Darren McMaster, Anthony Skelton and Sadie Wilson.
Finishing well in second was Baroness Ava for James and Ava McClelland with the little bitch surpassing her kennel mate Countess Ava who showed more promise early on in the season.
However Countess Ava wasn’t too far behind and claimed fourth place for James and Ava with both hounds starting to come good again.
Sonny Bill for Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Billy Birkett continues to run well and finished in third place, with local hound Apache Chief in fifth for the McGee family.
Zeta, for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham, ran a good race to take the last ticket.
The win takes Thornton to seven wins reducing Huntsman’s Time advantage to five points.
As the evening turned cooler it was the open maidens who were next up with a slip of 28.
It was a good race outside with Eden Romina and Eagle Love racing each other and establishing a slight lead over the chasing pack.
As they came on to the finish Eagle Love, for the Neale and Bryden family, overtook Eden Romina and finished well to win. David Clifford had to settle for second place with Eden Romina.
There was a gap to the third hound which was Geoff and Gillian Higgin’s Lucky Moon, with Sophie and Katie Steele’s Miterdale Honesty taking fourth place.
The Neale and Bryden team also took fifth place with Eagle Girl with the last ticket going to Glenis and Raymond Farren’s Huntsman’s Rally.
Eagle Love was 8/1 in the bookies ring so a great price for those who backed her.
Tonight’s trails are at Cleamire with a four-race card starting at 6pm. It’s back to Wardhall on Saturday with an early start of 11.30am.
June 12 – Potter’s Park
- Hounds – 1. Embrace; 2. Busy Again; 3. Mel; 4. Croft Lass; 5. Dundee; 6. Sportsman. 11 ran, time 30.02.
- Pups – 1. Thornton; 2. Baroness Ava; 3. Sonny Bill; 4. Countess Ava; 5. Apache Chief; 6. Zeta. 20 ran, time 19.26.
- Open Maiden – 1. Eagle Love; 2. Eden Romina; 3. Lucky Moon; 4. Miterdale Honesty; 5. Eagle Girl; 6. Huntsman’s Rally. 28 ran, time 18.48.
- All-In 1. Cautious; 2. Sarah Jane; 3. Glamorous Ava; 4. Foxparke Fair Lady; 5. Eden Rayna; 6. Duchess Ava. 18 ran, time 18.17.
